KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Maybe it's a gaunt-looking stare from the bench from the head coach. Or maybe it's just those bright orange colors.

Harold Bechard - The Hutchinson News - hbechard@hutchnews.com

Wednesday

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 26, 2008 at 5:00 PM

Whatever it is, the Kansas Jayhawks have a hard time making free throws against Syracuse.

In 2003, it was a 12-of-30 performance in the national championship game in New Orleans, which led to a three-point loss to the Orange.

Tuesday night in the finals of the CBE Classic, the No. 22 Jayhawks clanked them again, hitting 12 of 20 in losing an 89-81 overtime decision.

"Sometimes that's just the way the ball bounces," said sophomore center Cole Aldrich, who knocked down 5 of 6 free throws, but missed a big one with 19 seconds remaining in regulation with his team leading by three.

Syracuse (5-0) took advantage of that missed charity. Kansas coach Bill Self was unable to sub for Aldrich to set up his defense and Orange guard Jonny Flynn found himself 1-on-1 with Aldrich in the final seconds.

Flynn worked his way to the left wing and dropped in a game-tying 3-pointer. Sherron Collins then missed an off-balance 15-footer at the buzzer for the Jayhawks and Syracuse rolled in overtime, ending Kansas' 16-game winning streak.

"We were switching ball screens. I got switched on," Aldrich said. "I thought I did a fairly decent job trying to contain him. He got a half step on me, pulled up and hit a tough shot."

It also was the first time since 1983 that Kansas has lost a regular season game in Kansas City.

"A tough game," said KU coach Bill Self on Tuesday night as the clock hit midnight. "It's a game we controlled for the most part, but Syracuse made some big shots. And our inability to make some free throws really hurt us."

The Jayhawks, who played beyond their years and experience for much of the game, led 51-38 with 15:07 remaining and by six at the 2:45 mark, but could never put the Orange away.

Free throws, and a four-minute stretch in the second half when they turned the ball over four times on six possessions, did n the Jayhawks.

Marcus Morris and Collins each missed the front end of a 1-and-1 in the final five minutes that could have opened up a bigger margin.

"It's real tough, we just didn't finish the game," said Aldrich, who finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds. "They just kept fighting and pushing. You have to give them credit."

Collins was worn out at the end, his jersey drenched with sweat, after playing more than 40 minutes. The 5-11 junior scored 21 points and was named to the all-tournament team, but hit just 8 of 22 shots and turned the ball over three times.

"It's frustrating not to finish the game like we needed to," Collins said. "Me, as a captain, I kind of let my team down a little bit. It's a frustrating loss. We just can't give up 3-pointers like that and we've got to make our free throws."

Aldrich was 5 of 6 and Brady Morningstar 3 of 3 from the line, but Marcus Morris (1 of 4) and Collins (2 of 5) struggled, and Tyshawn Taylor and Markieff Morris each missed one.

Kansas led by one point in overtime with 3:08 remaining, but Syracuse put the game away with 10 straight points. Flynn, a 6-foot sophomore guard, scored 19 of his game-high 25 points after halftime and was named the tournament's MVP.

It was, as Self said, a good learning experience for his young team. Of the 11 players who saw action in the game, six were freshmen and four were sophomores.

"We got better this week even though this was a game we certainly had a chance to win," Self said. "It was a good experience for these young guys. They competed hard, but competing is also keeping your poise and really getting a stop when you need it, and we didn't do that at times."

In addition to the big nights from Collins and Aldrich, the Jayhawks also got 17 points from Taylor, who scored nine straight points for his team during a dazzling two-minute stretch in the first half, and 11 points and 11 rebounds from Marcus Morris.

"We had the game won and we missed some free throws," Taylor said. "You've got to give credit to them for coming back, but man, I wanted this game."

The Jayhawks return to Allen Fieldhouse on Friday for a 7 p.m. game against Coppin State.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.